Useful Idiot

I would also be content with 11 games versus all other league mates, and 6 inter-league, for a total of 160 games. But I am absolutely against shortening the season any beyond that. I'd rather see them move the world series to neutral warm-weather stadiums, than shorten the regular season any further.

I think that anything that reduces the significance of the regular season, is inherently bad. I also have little value for inter league play, but understand how teams located in 2 team cities are anxious to exploit that rivalry. And with the game 163 tie buster now a relic, I guess having an odd number of games between potential contenders is now more important. 17 games against each in-division rival 9 games against each of the remainder of the teams in your respective league 4 games interleague, with emphasis upon natural rivalry.... chicago-chicago NY-NY, LA-LA, etc with teams such as Detroit making "mop-up" appearances with other teams having no binary twin.

Beating the IRS might be more rewarding than beating the Yankees, for certain A-type personalities.

For team owners having a significant source of income OTHER than the team itself (most do, so it seems), "Winning" is often not necessarily their highest priority https://www.propublica.org/article/the-billionaire-playbook-how-sports-owners-use-their-teams-to-avoid-millions-in-taxes I posit that for some team owners who have learned how to pocket revenue sharing payments while simultaneously writing-off losses.....winning might never be a first priority.

Why not both?...win-win.⚕️

I guess you are right on about that. Contemplating it from a "food value received, for the dollar spent" is likely the wrong way to look at it. If you are running a business, and are renting the suite to entertain/bribe clients, it's more a matter of the influence you are buying for the dollar spent...and the food (from your perspective) is just schwag.

Seems a bit odd, I'll have to say, that some of the food cost is not built in to the suite. For instance, if the offerings are that overpriced, what happens when they set up a food service IN EACH SUITE, and hardly anybody buys anything? Seems like an opportunity for a loss, unless they cover some base minimum through the suite rental.

Mostly, I was just musing over how quickly they changed their spiel once they spent a little money on payroll. Personally, I don't believe that adding one above average player and one average player to last year's roster justifies the sobriquet "premium", so I was just wondering if there were other perks "built in" that might validate their boast. (the food pictures appear enticing) So, I was just curious. Thanks to all who responded.

How about that? Over the past 5 years they sign one contract in excess of $20 million/year, and already they are calling themselves "premium". How' s food work out on those suite leases? Is the grub included in the price of the room, or is that extra? (serious question)

Maybe we could get Brandon Inge to share a few pointers with Baez about bat control?

Rangers paying $325M for 10 years of Seager, Mets paying $43.5M/Year for Scherzer....what's that I heard about "drunken sailor" being redefined? Hope Al is not holding out for an $18M/year retread.

It boils down to a matter of economics, in several different directions. Clearly the team hopes that I'll either get excited enough to actually buy some tickets, and consume over priced concessions, or at least watch the games on TV and support their sponsors. But, I'm not really drawn by "fiscal responsibility", I'm not gonna shell out $60+ a ticket just to sit out in some sweaty stadium with a bunch of beer swilling lunatics to celebrate a perennially elusive future . As a fan I've been suffering through several lean years, and it's now come time for them to put some steak on the table. They either want my fan dollars or they don't ... consequently it's time for the check book to "step up", vapid rhetoric about the vices of drunken sailors is not going to seduce me.

Well, let me emphasize that I am not averse to Grossman being a Tiger. I just see a confluence of circumstances, we need a shortstop, and there just happen to be "game changer" shortstops available. It boils down to a matter of being able to get better right away, versus not. So, if we hired a "Robbie Grossman" type player now to be shortstop, my objection would be based mostly on opportunity cost.

And of course, Kriedler possesses the two tools most coveted by both Avila and C Ilitch....cheap AND controllable.

My most persistent memory of Robbie from the 2021 season are the monkey shines he shoots back at the pitcher on his way walking back to the dug out. Don't know for sure what thought prevails in his head at such times, but it looks like some one who didn't get the Red Ryder BB gun they were expecting for Christmas. That's not to say that I am "anti" Robbie Grossman, but for someone to imply that they would be hugely pleasantly pleased with a Robbie Grossman caliber player to fill our needs at short stop, when there are Correa caliber players available......doesn't really make me feel the mojo.

Wait and see. None of the players you mention could be considered top tier, either. But in a strange way, I think you have a point. AA will go after a "Grossmanesque" short stop. Some one who is neither awful nor catalytic. Someone who will swing and miss at a 3rd strike 2 feet outside the strike zone, and then mad dog the pitcher all the way back to the dug out...oh joy!

"Oh, that oil spot is from a car that parked here yesterday".....as he looks at an imaginary spot 5" above your head. That's the AA that I see. Nice suit though. 😎

Yeah, that's where I got the bad vibe. He's gonna pull a klinker off some salvage pile, imo.

And what "cards" do you see him as holding

Watching this video today, there is an uncomfortable "vibe" to AA's presence. I would NOT buy a used car from that man. https://www.mlb.com/tigers/video/al-avila-on-shortstop-pitching

I was the same way, back in the day. But in the past few years have grown an arms distance appreciation for that team. Harry Dalton I believe was the wizard who built those teams. Then went on Anaheim with less success.

Funny, but Brad Ausmus being our manager the memory that stands out most for me about the 2014 playoffs

They asked the same group: Which shortstop will get the biggest deal -- and for how much? Carlos Correa (unanimous) -- Average answer: 10 years, $304 million This was a unanimous choice, perhaps because he's the youngest of the group. Though he's had some injuries, voters overlooked any of those issues while offering up huge contract numbers. The highest was $350 million over 12 years, while the lowest came in at eight years, $250 million.

ESPN took a survey of 20 major league executives, as to where each suspected the "hot commodity" shortstops will land. They said: Javy Baez: Mets 10, Astros 3, Rangers 3, Cubs 2, Mariners 2 Carlos Correa: Tigers 10, Rangers 6, Yankees 3, Astros 1 Corey Seager: Yankees 12, Tigers 4, Rangers 2, Dodgers 2 Marcus Semien: Mariners 8, Tigers 5, Rangers 4, Blue Jays 3 Trevor Story: Rangers 8, Tigers 5, Astros 3, Yankees 2, Mariners 2 I can't begin to tell everyone just how thrilled that I am, none of them projected Javy Baez coming to the D.

Yeah, but Prince got that notorious triple in the ASG. "Notorious" is fame, right?😛 And, how many belly flops is Cecil famous for?